Ranking of Western Songs That Hype Up Sports Days and Athletic Festivals [2026]

SingEd Sheeran29rank/position

Ed Sheeran – Sing [Official Music Video]

Starting with passionate guitar strumming, this track combines a wild vibe with Ed Sheeran’s beautiful vocal groove, making it an incredibly feel-good number.

The chorus’s rallying cry of “Sing!” leads into a crowd-friendly phrase that feels great to sing along to, guaranteed to lift everyone’s spirits.

It’s a wild tune that’s also a perfect fit as BGM for a sports day.

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Murakami Shinpei

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When I’m GoneAlesso, Katy Perry30rank/position

Alesso, Katy Perry – When I’m Gone (Official Music Video)

Alesso, a Swedish DJ who hails from the same country that produced world-renowned music producers like Avicii, teamed up with American singer-songwriter Katy Perry in 2021 to create “When I’m Gone,” a danceable number perfect for school sports festivals.

You can savor her powerful flow laid over a brisk rhythm.

The deep synth sounds reminiscent of house music are also a highlight.

Let’s liven up the sports festival with this high-energy dance tune!

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mutō

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SacrificeBebe Rexha31rank/position

Bebe Rexha – Sacrifice [Official Music Video]

A true dance music classic, “Sacrifice.” This track was released in 2021 by American singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha and is included on the album “Better Mistakes,” released the same year.

Though it runs only about two and a half minutes, its catchy melody, shimmering piano sounds, and driving drum beat make for an undeniably cool vibe from start to finish.

Be sure to check it out.

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Yoimachi Jēn

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One in a MillionBebe Rexha & David Guetta32rank/position

Bebe Rexha & David Guetta – One in a Million (Official Music Video)

Bebe Rexha is a pop singer-songwriter from the United States, and David Guetta is a DJ and music producer from France.

Their collaboration, “One in a Million,” released in August 2023, fuses club, dance, EDM, and pop.

Rexha’s soaring vocals passionately deliver lyrics that evoke a fateful encounter and a special bond, while Guetta’s uptempo beats and synths are guaranteed to ignite the dance floor.

It’s a track that will undoubtedly elevate high-energy, fast-paced events like school sports festivals, so be sure to give it a spin.

We Will Rock You (Dean Cohen Remix)Queen33rank/position

Queen – We Will Rock You (Dean Cohen Remix)

When it comes to classic sports day anthems, Queen’s “We Will Rock You” is the one, right? That stomping, the clapping, and Freddie Mercury’s rousing calls—it’s the perfect track to fire up the competitors’ fighting spirit.

In 2018, Queen’s biographical film “Bohemian Rhapsody” was a huge hit.

Even so, there are still lots of kids who look blank and go, “What song is this?” Unfortunately, to ears tuned to modern pop, it just doesn’t sound familiar.

But I totally understand teachers who want those kids to appreciate how great Queen is.

In times like that, let’s meet in the middle and get them used to this remix version first! Don’t worry—this song will surely spark their interest in Queen!

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Yoimachi Jēn

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Counting StarsOneRepublic34rank/position

OneRepublic – Counting Stars

This is a work released in June 2013 by OneRepublic, a pop-rock band from the United States.

It expresses the emotions of modern people swayed by materialism and anxiety about the future through an impressive folk-pop sound.

Included on the 2013 album “Native,” it became a major hit, reaching No.

2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.

1 in the UK.

Used in the end credits of the film “Earth to Echo” and in the TV drama “Rookie Blue,” this song offers courage and hope in the face of adversity.

It also makes a great background track for school sports days, encouraging a spirit of challenge.

Party Rock Anthem ft. Lauren Bennett, GoonRockLMFAO35rank/position

LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem ft. Lauren Bennett, GoonRock

LMFAO is an electropop duo consisting of Redfoo and SkyBlu, who are active as rappers, dancers, and DJs.

Their signature song, Party Rock Anthem, was released as a single in 2011 and reached number one on the singles charts in more than seven countries worldwide.

British singer Lauren Bennett and singer-songwriter/rapper GoonRock appear as featured artists.

With its fast tempo and the memorable dance steps in its music video, this track might be a great fit for a sport like “touchdown,” where you kick a rugby ball, loop around a turnaround marker, and head for the goal!